The Trenton City Council Monday night received a report on progress being made with the paperwork that eventually leads to the replacement of the 17th Street bridge.
City Administrator Ron Urton Junior announced the Union Pacific Railroad has approved the conceptual plans for the bridge. The city council last night approved a funding agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Urton said Olsson and Associates are working on preliminary plans which will then be sent to Union Pacific for review. By ordinance, the city council accepted a cost participation agreement involving the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. MoDOT has agreed to pay up to $750,000 toward total costs of the bridge project.
Other funding sources include the community development block grant for $500,000. Urton said Union Pacific Railroad is expected to financially provide 20 percent of the bridge construction cost. And the local revenue share will be raised via a voter-approved three eights of a percent city sales tax for transportation – collection of the new sales tax begins October 1st.
The city council approved two companion ordinances with the Highways and Transportation Commission regarding the Trenton welcome signs – one is off 9th Street and Highway 6 near U.S. 65. The other is along Main Street at the west edge of town.
One other ordinance adopted by the city council allows Trenton to lease a street sweeper from the Elgin, Illinois sweeper company. It’s a zero percent, three-month lease at a one time cost of a dollar.
Trenton Street Superintendent Martin Schieb describes it as a demonstrator unit with Trenton documenting its use for the company. The agenda last night also included city council discussion on a possible purchase of used street sweeper but that was set aside while the leased equipment is evaluated.
Among reports, City Clerk Cindy Simpson reported a $16,000 check from Trenton Township was received yesterday to financially assist the city in maintaining roads. Mayor Nick McHargue, in past meetings, had asked the council for consideration of a special road district for Trenton but no action occurred.
Mayor McHargue said he’d like to look at having more cross-training of employees, particularly those who work in the TMU water and sewer departments. Councilman Larry Crawford agreed it should be considered as the city may need to address its manpower.
Police Chief Tommy Wright reported interviews with two applicants are this week, the citizens’ academy begins September 28 and a firearms training simulator is scheduled this fall.
Councilman Glen Briggs asked if there is something the city council could do to nudge officials with Missouri Department of Transportation to sooner than later, re-asphalt East 9th Street which is State Highway 6. The project is budgeted by MoDOT two years from now. In the meantime, maintenance crews are described as continuing to patch as needed.
Briggs also reported on the initial meeting last week of Trenton’s long range planning committee. More meetings are planned as he described it as quite a process.
Utility Director Ron Urton reported the digging in the 700 block of Main Street last Friday was in response to concerns expressed regarding a possible water leak.
Trenton’s Street Department crew today, will begin street re-surfacing work for the town of Sumner. This is a contractual agreement in which Sumner will pay the city of Trenton for work done.
Each month, the council receives a report on asphalt plant sales. Street Supervisor Martin Schieb said total sales to MoDOT and private contractors is 9,865 tons. He noted that’s some 1,400 tons less than last years asphalt sales. The margin of profit was listed as $74,000.
It also was reported to the city council that the contractor tentatively is scheduled to start surface sealing work on the airport runway September 18th or later.
Five members of the city council were present to approve the four ordinances including Glen Briggs, Allan Quilty, David Mlika, Brad Chumbley, and Larry Crawford.
